Rotary Toronto Youth Day June 9, 2017

Friday, June 9, 2017

Youth Day Lunch

Location: Fairmont, Imperial Room

Youth Civic Leadership Awards

YOUTH CIVIC LEADERSHIP AWARDS RECIPIENTS:

The Rotary Club of Toronto Youth Civic Leadership Award

Karina is a Grade 12 student in the Extended-French and Advanced Placement programs at Bishop Allen Academy, who has taken on many leadership roles within the school and the community she lives in. She is a school trustee and a French Relations Officer on the executive council of the Ontario Student Trustees Association. Amongst all the projects she has led or worked on,one of the most fulfilling one has been running workshops on mental wellness & habits of effective teens in the First Nations reserve in Geraldton, Northern Ontario. Karina also volunteers for the Children’s Aid Foundation and the Parkinsons Society of Central & Northern Ontario. Karina will be studying Medicine at Harvard University.

Rotaract Gold Youth Civic Leadership Award

Samantha is a Grade 12 student from Martingrove Collegiate Institute and is an elected Youth Councillor for Ward 3 where she has chaired the Finance/Economic Infrastructure Committee. She is also a member of the Premier’s Council on Youth Opportunities advising the Minister of Youth Services, Minister of Finance and the Premier on provincial youth programs. Amidst keeping very good academic grades at school, Samantha still finds time to be a Lieutenant Governor for the Key Club, club president for the Martingrove World Action Council & volunteering as a camp counsellor for the Martingrove Leadership Camp. Samantha will be studying Political Science at McGill University.

Rotaract Silver Youth Civic Leadership Award

Sarah is a Grade 12 student from Ursula Franklin Academy. Sarah’s extracurricular activities involves being President of the Student Council, fundraising for the Franklin Athletic Association, Peer Mediation, leading Inside Ride (supporting children with cancer & their families), helping Syrian Refugees & being a communications lead for the Social Justice Committee at Bloor Street United, organizing panel discussions at school to help students understand the workplace. Sarah has also been involved in International Service through Youth on Bloor – she has been on a trip to El Salvador where she has built chicken coops, planted trees and helped build a well. With the Salvadorian youth, she is also engaged in the peace process. She has also been a camp counsellor for her school. Sarah is looking forward to attend the University of Western Ontario’s Social Sciences & Business Management program.

Toronto Community Housing Youth Civic Leadership Award

Hilary is a Grade 12 student from the John Polanyi Collegiate Institute and is involved in the CITY – Change Impacting Toronto’s Youth – a social entrepreneurship group. She led the CITY’s website development and participated in the SAGE International Entrepreneurship competition and represented Canada in South Korea. Hilary is also a Youth Ambassador for the Regent Park Revitalization program looking at problems facing youth in Regent park and what solutions to bring forward to help these young people with regards to education, training & employment in Regent Park. She also created a Mental Health committee at her school to promote positive thinking aimed at eliminating stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness. Hilary also volunteers at Bridgepoint Hospital.

The Rotary Club of Toronto – Youth & Children Committee Youth Civic Leadership Special Award

Christine is a returning Grade 12 student at Westview Centennial Secondary School. Through her life experiences and passion, Christine wants to ultimately become a Human Rights Lawyer. She will be starting her undergrad in Political Science & Global Development at Quuen’s University this year. For many years, she has been a volunteer at the Buddhist Temple and helped raise funds and has been a role model & mentor for the Youth & Peers at the temple. She even got a recognitions award from the Mayor for her volunteer work. Christine is a mentor at the Generation Change organization and LAWS program in the Jane/Finch community where she lives. She helps the youth in the community to develop, appreciate cultural diversity, ethnicity & inclusiveness through events. She is also a Student Council representative and has taken leadership roles in raising money & toys for children at Humber River Regional Hospital & women’s shelters.